Furniture-tread.



V. & S. J. VON DER LIN.

FURNITURE TREAD. APPLIUATION FILEDPELM, 1914.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

UNITED srargswrafrnnr orrori.

VALENTINE VON DER LIN AND SIMON J. VON DER LIN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

FURNITURE-'BREAD Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Applicatonfled February 24, 1914. Serial No. 820,419.

To all whom, 'it may concern Be it known that we, VALENTINE voN Dur. LIN, a citizen of the United States, and SIMON J. voN DER LIN, a native of Germany, having declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, both residents of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furniture-Treads, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is designed to afford simple buteffective means for application to the legs or supports of tables or other articles of furniture whereby variations in length of support or inequalities of floor surface may be quickly and conveniently compensated for, as hereinafter more fully set forth, the invention consisting in the specific construction and arrangement of parts described and claimed, a distinctive feature being the use of a screw sleeve by which the tread may be accurately adjusted to meet the requirements of use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is an elevation of the lower part of the leg of a table or other article to which our adjustable tread is applied; Fig. 2, a central vertical sectional elevation thereof; Fig. 3, is an elevation of the base or stud plate; Fig. 4, a view of the under side thereof; Fig. 5, is a top view of the adjusting sleeve before application to the base plate; Fig. 6, is a view of the under side thereof; Fig. 7 is a section taken upon plane of line 7-7 Fig. 5; Fig. 8, is a top view of the tread member; Fig. 9, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 10, a top view of the tread modified in structure; Fig. 11, an elevation partly broken away of the stud plate showing a modification corresponding to Fig. 10; Fig. 1'2, is an elevation showing a modification of the tread adapting it for use as a caster.

The base or stud plate B, may be attached to a furniture leg or support L, by the use of any well known mechanical expedient,- that shown in the drawing consisting of the screw b, projecting centrally from the base plate on the upper side thereof. The base plate consists essentially of an annular iange or disk from the lower side of which projects centrally the stud b', which performs the function of a guide post and lateral support for the tread member T, the latter being formed with a central recess or socket t, the side walls of which embrace the sides of the stud b.

The body of the tread T, is cylindrical and is formed with a peripheral male thread t, for engagement with the female thread s, of the adjusting sleeve S. This adjusting sleeve S, is locked rotatably on the base plate B, by any suitable means. Thus in the drawings it is formed with a cross member s, having the flanged central aperture S2, the sides of which fit over the cylindrical portion bx, of the guide post b, and with lugs s3, consisting of projections of the upper edge s4, of the sleeve which are bent4 over laterally to overlap the peripheral edge of the base plate B, as shown on the left hand side of Fig. :2. These lugs are shown in Figs. 5 and 7 as they are prior to the application of the sleeve S, to the base plate B; z'. e. before they are bent over inward to clasp the edges of the base plate B, since otherwise the sleeve could not be applied to the latter. It will be noted that the lugs s3, when thus turned over lock the sleeve S, and base plate B together in such manner that theycannot be detached from each other although the sleeve S, is free to rotate independently upon the base B. That is to say, when the base plate B, is secured to the furniture support L, by means ofthe screw b, or equivalent mechanical eX- pedient, the sleeve S, is rotatable upon the said base plate B, in either direction, to effect the desired adjustment of the tread T, with relation to the leg or support L, or to the floor or other sustaining surface. This is accomplished by reason of the engagement of the male thread t', on the tread T, with the female thread s, on the sleeve but in order to effect this result it is obvious that the sleeve S, alone must turn,- the tread member T, moving only longitudinally as related to the aXis of the guide post b. In other words while the sleeve S, and the base plate B, are coupled together by interlocking means which permit the rotation of the sleeve S, the tread T, and the stud b, are coupled together by interlocking means which prevent the rotation of the tread T, but permit of its being slid longitudinally on said guide post b', in either direction to increase or diminish the extent of protrusion of the bearing surface t2, as related to the sleeve S, and hence to the leg or support L.

as related This interlocking of the guide post ZJ, with the tread T, may be effected in various Ways, and We do not limit ourselves in this respect. For instance the guide post b, may be formed With a central longitudinal slot and a coupling pin t, may be inserted therethrough and through holes in the central annular flange t3, of the tread as shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the coupling pin t, being upset to clench the pin in position.` 0r the lower portion of the stud post Z1', may be made angular in cross section, the socket t, in the tread T, being correspondingly formed. Thus in Figs. lO and ll the lower end of the post b, is made square in cross section and fits the square socket 2512, in the tread T. In either case the result is the same in that the rotation of the tread T, upon the guide post is prevented While admitting of the adjustment of the tread vertically in either direction Within prescribed limits.

The adjusting sleeve S, is so formed externally as to facilitate its being turned axially on the base plate B. Thus it may be formed as shown With flattened facades S5, for engagement with the jaws of a Wrench or corrugated or serrated peripherally, or otherwise shaped to aord ahold or purchase for hand or tool While effecting the adjustment of the tread T.

It is obvious that the contact surfaces 252, of the tread T, may consist either of the lower portion of the tread itself, as in Figs. l and 2, or of a caster roller as shown in Fig. 12, as, may be found most expedient in adapting our device, to various special uses and4 purposes, so that We do not restrict ourselves in this respect. In f act the tread T, may be provided With any form of caster bearing or contact, so that it is to be understood herein that by the term tread We mean to designate any iioor or surface contacting device engaging with and controlled by the adjusting nut or sleeve S.

Qur adjustable tread is particularly adapted for use on table legs, in aifording convenient and effective means whereby the table top may be quickly leveled to compensate for inequalities of length or unevenness of any kind, and to prevent shaking, rattling &c.y is a means for leveling billiard tables and the like it is especially effective; and its use is not necessarily restricted to tables, as it may be utilized for other articles of furniture, and in fact in any case Where rm and even support is a desideration.

lVhat We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

A furniture tread of the character designated comprising a base plate, meansl for attaching the same to a furniture leg or support, a guide post on said base plate, an externally threaded tread member slidable on said guide post, interlocking means for preventing the rotation of said tread member on said guide post, and a nut sleeve rotatably mounted on said base plate and engaging the threaded portion `of the said tread member, for the purpose described.

VALENTINE voN DER LIN. SIMON J voN DER LIN. lVitnesses:

GEO. WVM. MIA'IYL, DOROTHY MIATT.v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents eaeiji, by addressing the i Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D, C. 

